Pocket and method of making



May 24, 1949. R. E. cARi'ER 2,471,386

POCKET AND METHOD OF MAKING Filed Nov. 1, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 24, 1949. R. E. CARTER 2,471,386

POCKET AND METHOD' OF MAKING Filed Nov. 1, l94 6 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. E. CARTER POCKET AND METHOD OF MAKING May 24, 1949.

Filed Nov. 1, 1946 4 Shezafs-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 'M y' 9- R. E. CARTER 2,471,386

POCKET AND METHOD OF MAKING Filed Nov. 1, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 24, 1949 UNITED? STT My invention relatesito a pocket'and methodv or makingit.

Themain purpose of'my'invention' is 'to'cut a 1 single'piece'of fabric intoa configuration WhiCh'" is scored'and folded for" completion into a wide-* or expansible pocket by sewing or otherwise fast tening the folded andi'cut" parts together, within minimum *of labor;

A furtheripurpose is to bind the upper edges of .j

the interior of the 'formedpoc A further purpose is to providea pocket with strap extensions which'are fastened tothe. wallli of a garment:

A further purpose is to. provide a strip of fabricQ.

witn'sideflaps, a central; extension between the sideflaps, bottom tabsonltheside flapsand with. L lateral tabs between the side' fiaps,"integral with the centralextension'.

A further purpose is to fold thejbottomtabs. ones the 'sideflaps into meeting engagement With. .the-

lateral tabs for'sewing together, the mater-ialatorform a completed pocket.

A furtherspurposetis tosapply a bindingtstrip along the upperedgeof the,pocketrthusfancomr pleted, and at the same time to sew in place: 011%:

the back of the strip, upwardly extending straps which are eventually secured to the garment-to hold. theQQOCkGtZtO the -garmenttu A further purpose isto turn the; pocketrinside'lm out before the pocket is permanentlyxiatt-ached to the garment.

A further purpose is to .fasten.-:. the pocket in place upon the-garmentby stitching upwardly'extend tra to the arment==wit add'tionalmg 5 p5 g h 1 D it Bythe present invention, it is, possible to pro.-.-::

stitches along the. meeting edges of -an"open'mg" formedvin thenpocketi A further purpose is to fasten-a pocketrfiap above the opening in the pocketand overthe'upwardly 'extendingstraps secured to thetipocket'r Furthe'r purposes appear in the "specificationja and in the claims.

In the drawingsgI have chosen to illustratetone only of the numerous embodiments in which invention may appear, choosing therforrn shown Figure 1 is, a broken .perspe tivewiew-of mytim provedpocket.showntin place upon a garments Figure 2 is a: vertical-crossseetiom along: some at such. as line. 2,-4.2 inFigure withmthegflap in closed position...

Figure 3 isa fragmentary. elevation of, a piecez-of 1 fabric cut-so that'whe'n it is folded uponitself' andpartlysecured; it will'form acomplete pocket.

Figure-4 is a folded-development of the'blank shown in Figure 3;

, Figure 4 is a fragmentary further development of the blank of Figure 3:

Figure-5 is a still furtherfolded-development--- of the blank shown in Figures'3;4-and4 Figure '6 is a fragmentary transverse-section takenonthe line E-6-of Figure-5:

Figure 7 is a View similar" to -Figur'e--5, butfi' looking at the opposite side thereof 'ar1d"being'fprovided with "additional "binding and securing straps, but with the side' fiaps extended:

; Figure'S is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 88 of'Fig'ure '7.

Figure 9 isa fragmentary'verticalsection taken on the line"9-9 of Figure '7.

Figure 10 is a View similarlto Figures 5 and '7 but showing the packet turned.- inside out.

Figure 11 is a perspectiveview of the completed pocket before it is fastened to the garment.

Inflthev prior art where-.single ..piecepockets have been employedit hastfrequentlyibeenwnecese-- saryto make the pocket. quite large in orderiq-to: provide for moderate capacity, thus,--.consuming.- considerable. quantitiesof material,-.,-and --in some: cases interfering with .other tfeatures 'of 1311813161 sign of the garment. Whereit has been-the.-prac-..--.- ticeto make. a smalLor .moderate. sizedv poeketn: of considerable ,.capacity, it has, commonlyrbeena'anecessary to employ a built-up construction of several components. stitched ,together,..in order to provide the requisite expansibility.

duce a cheap, simple and.attractivepocketrwhic although moderate insize l is considerablyeX-.: pansible, and which is veryreadily madein views of the'fact that a single piece-is employed,- and,

0 a. minimum of stitching is required.

Thecompleted pocket of my invention is best seen in the perspective view in Figure 1-, in which 1.; the'pocket M is placed upon a garmental fi, such... as 'a coatysportsmans jacket or other suitable. garment. Above the pocket l,'I located-a fiap.-..; l6 provided with a buttonhole ll, which is adapted to fit about a button-l8 sewed to'the; pocket H1. The flap is suitably fastened as by sewing to the wall of the garments.

The pocketitself is provided with upwardlyextending straps l9 sewed to the sides'of the pocket l4 and sewedto the garment beneath the'flap 15.1; These straps are adapted to supportthepocket uponithe garment.

I have found' it desirable 'to have a pocket which can be easily placed within or upon a garment and in which the pocket will be capable of expansion to meet the needs of a sportsman, while he is in the field. My pocket is formed to provide the expansion necessary to hold articles which a fisherman or huntsman might wish to use while following his sport.

In Figure 2 I have illustrated the pocket applied to a garment and with the pocket in an expanded position. It will be understood that this view is used to show clearly that the pocket is capable of expansion to hold articles which a sportsman may need when in the field or returning therefrom.

For the method of forming my pocket, attention is directed to the fabric blank cut as shown in Figure 3. The fabric is preferably cut to form side panels 2i) and bottom tabs 2| extending therefrom. These tabs are angularly cut at 22 and arcuately at 23, so that when folded back on the fabric, the lines 22 will be diagonal of the pocket, and the lines 23 will conform to the shape of the corner of the pocket. The fabric blank also has a central extension 24 which on its ends carries lateral tabs 25 and 26. The lateral tabs are cut angularly at 27 and 28 at their lower ends, so that they will cooperate with the bottom tabs 2| when the bottom extension is folded back.

Between the bottom tabs and the lateral tabs the material is cut arcuately at the corners as clearly shown at 29 and 30. The upper portions of the lateral tabs are also arcuately cut as shown at 3| and 32 for purposes hereinafter described.

In Figure 4, the first step in folding the pocket blank is illustrated. The side flaps are first folded on some such angle as 33 in Figure 3 to a position shown in Figure 4. It will be noted that at the same time that the side flaps are folded over on the fabric, the lower end of the central extension Zl is folded over on the main fabric along some such line as 35. This folding will bring the material into the position shownin Figure 4. These positions described are, of course, for temporary purposes used in developing the pocket and are described with a view to affording clearer understanding of the steps taken in producing my improved pocket. In Figure 4 this development position illustrates that the diagonal edges 22, 2'7 and 23, 28 of the respective tabs are brought into matching position with one another, after which stitches 3E are applied to hold together the angular meeting edges of the tabs.

After the pocket has been developed into the position shown in Figure 4, the side flaps are then folded again into the position shown in Figure 4 and later in Figure 5. In these positions it will be noted that the edges 31 are now in parallel relation. At the same time the lower extension 24, which carries the lateral tabs and 26, are re-folded upon the imaginary line 38 and the angularly meeting portions 22, 2? and 23, 28 are in an upright matching position as seen in Figure 4. It will be obvious from the foregoing that there is a considerable shift in the conditions above described which will bring the pocket into the position shown in the fragmentary view of Figure l This, of course, is before permanent stitching is applied to hold the pocket into the position shown in Figure 5.

Referring now to Figure 5, the meeting ends 22, 21 and 23, 28 are shown as folded fiat against the main body of the material. Stitches 39 are then placed about the side and bottom edges of the pocket to complete the permanent pocket.

These stitches unite together the curving corner edges 29, 3| and 30, 32, as well as curving edges 23, 29 and 23, 30.

It will be noted that in Figures 3, 4 and 4 when the side flaps 2B are folded along the lines 40, the arced edges 23 and 3| will match with the arced edge 29 and the arced edges 23 and 32 will also match with the arced edge 30. It will be clear that when these flaps and tabs are folded into their meeting positions the completed article will be uniform in outline, and desirably but not necessarily curved on the corners.

In Figure '7 the reverse side of the showing of Figure 5 illustrates a binding A l, which is stitched along the upper edge of the pocket and about the hem 42 on the upper edges of the pocket. At two points near the outer edges of the thus finished pocket, and preferably at the sides of the front t3, I place two upwardly extending straps 46 and 45, preferably folded longitudinally. When the binding is applied to the pocket, the stitches used in holding the binding to the pocket will also be used to hold the straps to the pocket. This is clearly illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, Figure 8 being a vertical section taken through the upper edge of the pocket.

After the formation of the pocket as just described, the pocket is then turned inside out as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. It will be noted that none of the side and bottom stitches are visible. The Walls provided about the opening in the pocket will permit sewing of the pocket about the opening, to the garment itself, as at 46. This is in addition to the stitches 41 used in holding the straps to the garment. The garment will provide the closure for the opening at the back of the pocket.

I have provided a pocket which can be used on any coat or garment, especially where it is desired to carry articles which would ordinarily not be transportable in a pocket on account of the strain on the material. The reason for this is that the pocket will be allowed to expand exceptionally, since it is not attached to the garment except at the upper straps and around the rear opening.

It will be evident that by the present invention a single piece blank is formed to provide side flaps having bottom tabs and a bottom extension having lateral tabs, the side flaps and bottom extension are folded over on the same side of the blank, and each bottom tab is stitched to the corresponding lateral tab. The opening at the corners is closed by stitching, and preferably by a stitch line running around the perimeter of the sides and bottom. The pocket is then reversed and is ready for application to a garment by stitching around the back opening.

It will be evident that much of the weight of the pocket is carried by the straps which extend upward and are secured to the garment above the pocket.

It will be evident that the contours of the meeting edges of the cooperating bottom and lateral tabs are made angular or diagonal with respect to the pocket as shown clearly in Figures 3, 5, 10 and 11.

It will be evident that as best illustrated in Figures 3, 5, '7, 10 and 11, the corner configuration and preferably the corner curvature is made by cooperation between the edge lines of the pocket front portion, the bottom tabs and the lateral tabs at each side of the pocket.

It will be evident as best seen in Figure 1, the straps or tabs extending above the pocket are positioned adjacent the outer edges of the pocket and-"areconsiderably-more widelyspaced thanthe stitchingtt securing the inner edges of the side-flaps and the bottomextension-to the pocket, so that" the strapssupport the pocket outwardly of the stitching 46-and prevent undue pull upon the garment or distortion-of the pocket from heavy articles held in the pocket and concentrating' weight near one -or the other side of the pockets In view-of invention andedisclosure, variations andmodifications to meet-individual whim or particular-need will doubtless-become:evident to others-skilled inthe"a-rt,--= to obtain all or part of *the -benefits- Of my invention without copyingthe structure shown;-and-I-, therefore, claim blank, W ich co prises formin curved botto1n---- corners on a portion of the blank to makethe front of the pocket, forming'side flaps on eitherside of the front of the pocket, forming bottomall suchainsofar astheyfallwithin the reasonable i of ,the .blank,;. uniting:: each lateral tab to the corresponding bottomtab; stitching around the periphery at .the sidesrand. bottom to close the corners and reversingthe. pocket.

2. The method ofmaking. a pocket from a fabric "blank; which comprises cutting. out curved bottom corners for -:a pocket front, forming side fiapsaat each side, formingztbottom tabs on the sideflaps each having-an edge which, when the side flaps are folded back on the blank, extends, diagonally thereof, and also, each having an edge which, when the. sidefiaps are folded back :onthe blank, cooperates with the curvaturev of a corresponding bottom corner, forming a bottomextension on the blank, forming lateral tabson the bottom extension each having an edge which, when the bottom'extension is folded back ontthe blank, extends diagonally of the blank and'cooperates -withthe diagonal edge of the corresponding bottom tab and each also having air an edgewhich, when thebottom extension is folded backon the blank cooperates with the curvature of a corresponding bottom corner, folding the side fiapswith the bottom tabs and the bottom. extension with the lateral tabs back on the.blank,-on the same side thereof, uniting the diagonal lines of the corresponding bottom tabs and lateral tabs, uniting the curved portions of the corresponding bottomand lateral tabs and the corner of thepocket front, and reversing the pocket.

3. The method of forming a pocket from a blank, which comprises forming curved bottom corners on a portion of the blank to make the front'of the pocket, forming side flaps on either side of the front of the pocket, forming bottom tabs on thes'side flaps eachhaving a diagonal edge and a curved edge, having outlines such that, when the side flaps are folded back on the front of ,the pocket, the diagonal edge will extend diagonally and the curvededge will cooperate with a curved corner of thefront of the pocket, formingla bottom extension on the blank, forming lateral tabs on the bottom extension having diagonal edges and curved edges, which when the bottom extension is folded back on the front of the pocket will provide an edge cooperating with the diagonal edge of the corresponding bottom tab and a curved edge cooperating with iii a curved corner of the front ofthe'pocket,fold-- ing the side tabs and bottom extensionback on the front of the pocket on-the sime side of -the'---- blank, uniting the diagonal edgesof the correspending bottom tabs and lateral tabs, stitching-- around the side and bottom periphery of the pocket, reversing the pocketand securing the pocket to a garment around the inner edges of the side flaps and bottom extension.

4. The method of forming a pocket fronr'a tabs on the side flaps and each havinga diagonai edge and a curved edge, having outlines suchthat, when the side flaps are folded backon the front of the pocket, the diagonab edge wili-- extend diagonally and the curved edgewill co operate with the curved corner-of thefront-of the pocket, forming a bottom extension en -the blank, forming lateral tabs on the bottom extension having diagonal edges and. curved such that, when the bottom extension is foided-- back on the front of the pocket, the lateral tabs" will provide a diagonal edge cooperating with the diagonal edge of the corresponding bottom" tab and a curved edge'cooperating with thecurved corner of the front'of the pocket,foiding the side tabs and bottom extension back onthe front of the pocket on tlie same sid-eof the blank, uniting the diagonal edges-of the corre-- sponding bottom tabs 'and lateral tabs, stitching around the side and bottom periphery of the pocket, applying straps to the upper edges of the pocket at either side, reversing the pocket, fastening the straps to a garment above the pocket and fastening the inner edgesof the side and bottom extension to the garment.

5. In a one-piece pocket, a pocket front, side flaps therefrom, bottom tabs on the near the bottom thereof, a bottom ext joined to the front at a fold line hat n1.

3 lateral tabs which extend on each side beyond the bottom extension and beyond the ends of the fold terial forming a pociretfront, flaps on each side of the strip having bottom tabs near the bottom thereof, a center extension from the bottom of the flat strip, lateral tabs from'the center extension extending on each side separate from the front, the bottom tabs being sewed to the latera tabs to completethe formation of the pocket, and the pocket being inside out in finished form with the stitching concealed.

'7. In a pocket construction, a pocket having a rear opening narrower than the limits of the front of the pocket, a garment to which the pocket is applied, stitching extending around the sides and bottom of the rear opening through the rear only of the pocket and securing the pocket to the garment, straps secured to the pocket adjacent the outer edges and on either side of the rear opening and stitching securing the straps to the garment above the pocket.

8. In a pocket construction, a pocket having a front, side flaps folded over behind-the front,

7 sion and joining it to the garment, straps secured to the pocket adjacent the outer edges thereof and extending above the pocket and means for attaching the straps to the garment above the pocket.

9. In a pocket, a pocket front, side flaps folded over on the same side of the front, bottom from the side flaps, a bottom extension fc over on the same side of the front, lateral from the bottom extension extending on each. side beyond the bottom extension, stitching uniting each bottom tab to the corresponding lateral tab and stitching closing the corner of the bottom of the pocket.

10. In a pocket, a front having bottom curved corners, side flaps at each side folded on the front, a bottom extension at the bott folded back on the front on the same side as the side flaps, bottom tabs on the side having curved portions which, when folded over, cooperate with the curved corners d hav g diagonal edges which assume a diagonal position when folded over, lateral flaps on the bottom c l tension having curved portions which, when folded over cooperate with the curved bottom corners and diagonal edges which, when folded over, extend diagonally and coopera" th is diagonal edges on the bottom flaps, stitc ng an iting the diagonal edges of the correspond ng bottom and lateral flaps and stitching uniting the curved bottom corners.

11. In a pocket, a front having bottom curved corners, side flaps at each side folded back On the front, a bottom extension at the bottom folded back on the front on the same side as the side flaps, bottom tabs on the side flaps having curved portions which, when folded over, cooperate with the curved corners and having diagonal edges which assume a diagonal position when folded over, lateral tabs on the bottom extension having curved portions which when folded over cooperate with the curved bottom corners and diagonal edges which, when folded over, extend diagonally and cooperate with the diagonal edges on the bottom flaps, stitching uniting the diagonal edges of the corresponding bottom and lateral tabs and stitching uniting the curved bottom corners and extending across the bottom and up the sides, the pocket being reversed so that the stitching is concealed.

12. In a pocket, a pocket front, side flaps folded over upon the front, bottom tabs on the side flaps, a bottom extension folded over on the pocket front on the same side as the side flap lateral tabs on the bottom extension, means for uniting the bottom tabs to the corresponding lat eral tabs, means for uniting the corners, and straps at the side edges secured to the pocket and extending above the same.

13. In a pocket, a unitary single piece blanl: comprising a pocket front, side flaps folded over on the front, bottom tabs extending below the side flaps, a bottom extension folded over on the pocket front on the same side as the side flaps, lateral tabs on the bottom extension, means for uniting each bottom tab with the corresponding lateral tab, means for closing the bottom corners, the pocket being reversed so that the stitching is concealed, in combination with straps extending above the pocket at the edges for support of the same.

14. In a pocket, a one-piece blank comprising a pocket front, having cut curved bottom corners, side flaps folded over upon the front, bottom tabs on the side flaps each having, when folded over, an edge extending diagonally of the pocket and an edge cooperating with the curve of the corner, a bottom extension from the pocket front folded over on the front on the same side as the side flaps, lateral flaps on the bottom extension each having, when folded over, an edge extending diagonally of the pocket and cooperating with the diagonal edge on the bottom tab and a curved edge cooperating with a curved bottom corner, in combination with stitching uniting the diagonal edges of the corresponding bottom tabs and lateral tabs, stitching uniting the pocket front to the corresponding bottom tabs and lateral tabs at the bottom corners and straps extending above and secured to the pocket at the lateral edges.

15. In a pocket, a one-piece blank comprising a pocket front, having cut curved bottom corners, side flaps folded over upon the front, bottom tabs on the side flaps each having, when folded over, an edge extending diagonally of the pocket and an edge cooperating with the curve of the corner, a bottom extension from the pocket front folded over on the front on the same side as the side flaps, lateral flaps on the bottom extension each having, when folded over, an edge extending diagonally of the pocket and cooperating with the diagonal edge on the bottom tab and a curved edge cooperating with the curved bottom corner, in combination with stitching uniting the diagonal edges of the corresponding bottom tabs and lateral tabs, stitching extending along the perimeter around the sides, bottom corners and bottom of the pocket, and straps secured to the pocket adjacent the lateral edges and extending above the pocket, the pocket being reversed to conceal the stitching.

16. A single piece pocket blank having a pocket front, out on a curve on the bottom corners, side flaps integral with the pocket front at the sides thereof, bottom tabs extending from the side flaps each having an edge which, when folded over on the pocket front, extends diagonally of the pocket and an edge which, when folded over, conforms to the curvature of a bottom corner, a bottom extension from the bottom of the pocket front, lateral tabs on the bottom extension each having an edge which, when folded over on the pocket front, is diagonal and cooperates with the diagonal edge on the corresponding bottom tab and each having an edge which, when folded over, cooperates with a curved bottom corner.

ROBERT E. CARTER.

CITED The following references are of record in the of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS itlmnber Name Date 289,515 Quillfeldt Dec. 4, 1383 122,293 Gaisman Mar. 10, 1903 1,850,827 Charles Mar, 22, 1932 1,999,927 Grunbaum Apr. 30, 1935 2,391,239 Horwitz Dec. 18, 1945 

